{"id":17531,"date":"2021-11-05T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T13:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=17531"},"modified":"2023-09-18T11:24:28","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T15:24:28","slug":"what-west-virginia-proves-about-homelessness-and-drug-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/what-west-virginia-proves-about-homelessness-and-drug-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"What West Virginia Proves About Homelessness and Drug Addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"
In a\u00a0<\/span>2020 research study<\/span><\/a>, Invisible People attempted to dissect the general public’s views on homelessness. Understanding public perception as it relates to social matters is vital because in a capitalistic society, public interest shapes policy to a certain extent.<\/span><\/p>\n We witnessed this in recent years when COVID-19 swept the country, and the government responded by shutting down businesses, leaving millions unemployed. The disgruntled public fought hard for safeguards – and received them. Stimulus checks were distributed expeditiously. Evictions were temporarily banned. Assistance – financial and otherwise – was ramped up to account for the crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n Sadly, according to Invisible People’s data, an astounding 60% of the general population thinks the leading cause of homelessness<\/a> is addiction or mental illness. This means that most of the public is grossly misinformed about the most impactful cause of this ever-growing crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n Note that the issues of addiction and mental health are deeply personal. Some might even point to them as flaws. Making the homeless crisis look like a personal flaw instead of a social failure has been the task of the media for centuries now.<\/span><\/p>\n In an article produced by American University and published online by\u00a0<\/span>Newswise<\/span><\/a>, researchers found that major media outlets such as newspapers and television programs “under covered, oversimplified and misrepresented” homelessness. In fact, one of the most cited “solutions” to homelessness, according to the media, is for the homeless person to overcome drug addiction. The least cited solution would be to improve unjust housing policies and systems that perpetuate poverty.<\/span><\/p>\n As you might have guessed, the reality is the complete inverse of what is being shown on television. So, when 79% of Americans turn on the news or flip through the newspaper to absorb the minuscule stories on homelessness trickled out into the public like a water reserve, these readers and viewers are misinformed.<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout the past few years, we at Invisible People have tried to counter the harmful narrative that has been circulating. We have released several fact-based, data-driven critiques regarding the homeless crisis and the fact that drug addiction plays a significantly smaller role than you have been led to believe. As a point of reference, please see:<\/span><\/p>\n Truth Talk: 74% of Homeless People are Not Drug Addicts <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Study Shows Lower-Income Status Does Not Mean Higher Rates of Drug Addiction<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n How Homeless People are Misrepresented in Media<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The above-listed articles deal with homelessness and its causes through the people who are experiencing it. They lay the foundation to reinforce the fact that homelessness is primarily a housing issue. Human studies continually show that the\u00a0<\/span>leading cause of homelessness<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is a lack of affordable housing. The three leading causes of homelessness are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n In October of 2021, Executive Director of\u00a0<\/span>Housing Rights Initiative<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Aaron Carr provided profound insight on this subject via the\u00a0<\/span>following Twitter thread:<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Claim: Homelessness isn\u2019t a housing issue, it\u2019s a drug issue.<\/p>\n Counterpoint: The worst State for drug overdose deaths in ?? is WV, which also has one of the *LOWEST* homelessness rates.<\/p>\n Conclusion: Drug addiction is a factor in homelessness, but the lead factor is housing costs. pic.twitter.com\/giWeZ0AY7c<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Aaron Carr (@aaronAcarr) October 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNot Surprisingly, the General Public Thinks Crisis-Related Unemployment Should be Immediately Addressed and Rectified. But, What Does the Public Think About Homelessness?<\/h3>\n
Homelessness by Numbers: A Breakdown of the Actual Causes of Unhoused Status in America<\/h3>\n
\n
That’s right. Drug addiction isn’t even in the top three. Yet, even with these numbers exhibited through countless studies, the general public remains largely unconvinced.<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n